Wednesday, February 4, 2015

#IWSG

This is a wonderful Group where Writer's Support each other. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and the many people or minions that help with this endeavor. This month, Alex's awesome co-hosts are Gwen Gardner, Dolorah, Sarah Foster, and M. Pax! 
Press Here to add your name to the list.


 In the beginning of the month I was totally insecure. My WIP had been hovering around for months. So close to the end, yet, my characters decided not to speak to me. Again, that doubt of being a writer surfaced. Again, I thought I fried my brain and my imagination had dried up. No more stories. Again, thoughts of quitting.

Determined, I saddled up to the computer, dug my heels in. And little by little words were composed. I completed my goal of finishing the ms by the end of January. Needless to say, it's the first draft. Many hair pulling months of editing lie ahead.

 My 4th book, Don't Forget to Breathe will be released this Saturday, February 7th. It's a new genre for me. A YA haunting murder mystery. And the doubts are beginning to churn, along with my stomach. 

Do You Have Insecurities?
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48 comments:

  1. randi leeFebruary 4, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    Hi Cathrina, this post resonates with me because for months I could not seem to muster the energy to work on my WIP. I finally hunkered down and finished it, however. And couldn't be happier!

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  2. Murees DupèFebruary 4, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    Congratulations on completing your next manuscript. Way to go! All the best with your new release.

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  3. Alex J. CavanaughFebruary 4, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    I think we were in the same place with our fourth books - now look, we both did it!

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  4. Crystal CollierFebruary 4, 2015 at 9:00 AM

    Ooh! The cover looks awesome. I totally get the fear of genre jumping, but I think sometimes it's a good thing--broadens your audience. And way to go you! Kicking through the writing dry spell... I wish you epic success in your editing, and I'm super stoked for your release.

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  5. Christine RainsFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    LOVE that cover! And congrats on your upcoming release! I'm in that hunkering down and pushing it little by little stage right now.

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  6. Stephanie FarisFebruary 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    I think I'm at the point where my characters aren't speaking to me, so I can definitely relate!

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    1. Cathrina ConstantineFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:47 PM

      Darn. Stephanie, I hope your characters stop giving you the cold shoulder.

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  7. Al DiazFebruary 4, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Completing the first draft is quite a success in itself, mostly when you feel you don't have anymore stories within you. Now take it step by step. Congratulations on the upcoming release, by the way.

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  8. Julie FlandersFebruary 4, 2015 at 11:50 AM

    I'm so excited for Don't Forget to Breathe! I will get my copy the second it goes on sale. :)
    And yay for completing the manuscript.

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  9. MelissaFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    I still get like that sometimes. Don't give up!

    If you want me to include your latest release in my Feb. 13th Promo Friday, send me the cover image and the basic deets (buy links, short blurb...) by Feb 11th. ;)

    IWSG #143 until Alex culls the list again.

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  10. Loni TownsendFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:36 PM

    I know what you mean. I find I want to shake the words out of the characters, but it just doesn't work.

    Still, four books is pretty darn good. Grats on the upcoming release!

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  11. M PaxFebruary 4, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    Congrats! I love your cover. Let me know if I can help you get the word out on the new book. I just bought Tallas. Been reading a lot since sick. Not getting much else done. Yes, sometimes a crowbar is needed to budge things forward. I find that true. That's the way I work. I'll write slow, then have a spurt, then slow down again. Sometimes crowbars are required.

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    1. Cathrina ConstantineFebruary 4, 2015 at 3:56 PM

      Hahaaa...crowbar works. Hope you like the adventure in Tallas.

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  12. Nicki ElsonFebruary 4, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    Oh, that cover is so wonderfully haunting! Good luck with the release. Stomach churning, indeed, but you'll be fine. Congrats on finishing that first draft!

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  13. Kristin SmithFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    I love the cover!! I was in a funk for a few months with writing too, but it's great when things turn around. So glad you were able to hit your deadline for you ms. Now you just have to whip it into shape—piece of cake, right? :)

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  14. Kathy Cannon WiechmanFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    Have a great launch and try to enjoy the process of revising the first draft of the new one. Personally, I love revising. The story is down. That was the hard part.

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  15. cheerfuloptimisticFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    Sometimes it helps to back off for a while. Congrats on getting the story out and not quitting before it was ready.

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  16. emaginetteFebruary 4, 2015 at 6:03 PM

    Excellent. All the best. :-)

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

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  17. L. Diane WolfeFebruary 4, 2015 at 8:33 PM

    Congrats!

    I didn't think I'd write another fiction book, but I'm attempting one right now.

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  18. Dean K MillerFebruary 4, 2015 at 8:40 PM

    Do I have insecurities? Are Kitten videos cute?

    Congrats on the finished first draft and the upcoming release. Impressive.

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  19. LidyFebruary 4, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    Congrats on your draft and the upcoming release. You would think that stomach churning feeling will go away after you've written and published a book the first couple of times. But no, each work will have us facing some road block(s) or other. Yet, like you've done with your latest manuscript, all we can do is just push through, right?

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  20. Mina BurrowsFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:46 PM

    Congrats! I love the cover! So excited for you.

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  21. Shannon LawrenceFebruary 5, 2015 at 3:28 AM

    Congratulations! And your cover is beautiful. Good luck as you move forward with the next one.

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  22. Georgina MoralesFebruary 5, 2015 at 5:31 PM

    Beautiful cover! Congrats on the release and best of luck!

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  23. Diane BurtonFebruary 5, 2015 at 7:00 PM

    I didn't think we were allowed to be in this group if we weren't insecure. :) Best wishes on your new release.

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  24. dolorahFebruary 6, 2015 at 2:37 AM

    Congrats on finishing. Sometimes it is hard to go that last leg.

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  25. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2015 at 9:58 AM

    Do I have insecurities? All. The. Time. Congrats on finishing your WIP and good luck with your upcoming release!

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  26. Sheena-kay GrahamFebruary 6, 2015 at 7:41 PM

    Just keep moving forward Cat.

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  27. UnknownFebruary 7, 2015 at 1:01 AM

    I often have places where ideas just aren't coalescing. Then I do exactly what you did -- I go with my best (crappy) idea and know I'll have a lot of revising to do. But by then, maybe an awesome idea will have occurred to me! Good luck!!

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